Speaking from New York, the taxi driver and part-time singer sobbed: "I'm trying to get back as soon as I can. I'm getting the next plane back. I want to be back home by the morning."

Police last night described her death as "unexplained". But the singer was recently said to have been on a string of wild drinking sessions around her old stomping ground of Camden. Yesterday evening, her home was sealed off by police, with a dozen officers standing guard outside.

Her tragic passing comes only weeks after it was reported that friends were worried after she told them that her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil -- who has previously been blamed for getting her hooked on hard drugs -- was the only person who could save her.

The pair married in 2007 but divorced in 2009. He was jailed for 32 months last month for burglary.

The singer's death has caused profound shock in the music world and there was an outpouring of grief from her fans across the world.

On Twitter, singer Lily Allen described her death as "beyond sad" and said Winehouse was "a lost soul".

Kelly Osbourne wrote: "I cant even breathe right now, I'm crying so hard. I just lost one of my best friends. I love you forever, Amy, and will never forget the real you."

Just days ago, Winehouse had been seen with her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield as the teenager took to the stage at the iTunes festival. While she didn't perform any tracks herself, Winehouse begged the crowds to buy Dionne's album. She appeared to be in a poor state.

A source said: "Amy staggered onstage and grabbed the microphone off someone to beg the crowd to buy her protege's new album."

That public appearance came after a string of worrying incidents involving the controversial singer.

In May, she admitted herself to The Priory clinic in London and was pictured swigging a bottle of vodka moments before she arrived.

In recent weeks, she cancelled her European tour, following a disastrous performance in June when she stumbled on to the stage in Belgrade and gave an incoherent performance, appearing removed from reality.

Her permanent withdrawal from the tour had been confirmed yesterday -- just hours before her death.

Her management team said: "Amy is withdrawing from all scheduled performances. Everyone wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen."

British singer Adele has credited Winehouse's success in the US for making her and fellow British singer Duffy's journey to the US "a bit smoother".

Her tragic end is a world away from the fresh-faced star who first emerged in 2003 with her debut album Frank.

Two years ago, Winehouse had a brush with death when she 'died' in ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil's arms after a three-day heroin and crack binge. Fielder-Civil said: "It was nearly midnight and I'd finally got her upstairs. We were sitting on the bed, talking. Her eyes went blank."

Winehouse's death at 27 marks the latest in a long list of influential singers who died at the same age. Others who died at the age of 27 include Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Brian Jones.